How Cinderella Associates with Children's Right and Participation - Essay Example

HОW 'СINDЕRЕLLА' (FILM) АSSОСIАTЕS WITH СHILDRЕN'S RIGHT АND РАRTIСIРАTIОN Name Course Instructor’s name Institution Date HОW 'СINDЕRЕLLА' (FILM) АSSОСIАTЕS WITH СHILDRЕN'S RIGHT АND РАRTIСIРАTIОN Over the recent years, the rights and participation of young people has receives some fair amount of shift from the previous perception where this issue was not given the seriousness it requires. However, the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNHCR) convention for the past decade begin creating the need for children to enjoy these rights without discrimination due to their religion, race, gender as well as any other basis (Thomas 2007, p.199). The idea of children rights is new considering that it was present since the 17th and 18th century. However for the concept of children rights and participation dates to the 19th and 20th century. Before this, the issue of children rights was narrow to their protection rights which centered on banning of child labor (Cameron, 2015, pp.1543-1544). Early in the 20th century many people had succumbed to the First World War and its effects. This led to the formation of the League of Nations for the purpose of protecting the standards of the human rights. After a while this inter-governmental organization choose the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child. However, the emergence of the Second World War which was caused by fascism left children unprotected leading to them being often gassed, killed and orphaned (Powell & Smith 2009, p.133). However, after the Second World War the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. However, this was followed by calls for the involvement of special needs for children which led to the second announcement of the rights of the child (Phillips, 2014). Thirty years later the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in the United Nations’ General Assembly (Lundy 2007, p.936). This essay aims to provide an argument that evaluates my chosen media’s source themes ‘play out’ in the idea of children rights and participation. Cinderella fairy tale story has been narrated and shown to majority of children, the influence of this fairy tale has been described and embraced by multiple generations to the extent that notes and discussions of old-fashioned analogue have been created based of this childhood story (Daly & Wilson 2015, p.507). Moreover, the popularity of this has led to different perspective of this fairy story to be created in different media channels such as music, books, movies as well as video games which is the most recently created perspective of Cinderella story (Tooley et al. 2006, p.227). However, all these modern day Cinderella story versions are not only keen to portray a heroine story that revolves around everlasting happiness rather they are as well keen on the to showcase some sign of the poor condition that Cinderella earlier lived in and the mistreatment that she was undergoing under her wicked step sister and step mother (Rall &Harris 2000, p.202). In addition to this most of these versions of the original Cinderella fairy tale are also keen to reveal that name ‘Cinderella’ was given to her due to the mistreatment that she was undergoing where she was forced to sleep near the fire place where she slept on ashes and cinders and despite all this mistreatment she never complained (Furedi, 2017). As showed in the original Cinderella fairy tale Cinderella the main character was subjected to a lot of emotional unkindness. In the films, Cinderella is showed to be deprived of kindness and love by her step mother and step sister who are also depicted to be quite aware of what they are doing (Zander, 2015). This mistreatments that Cinderella is subjected to is against the Convention of the Rights of the Children which instructs that any person under the age of 18 years should be afforded care and protection by any adult. In addition to this, the Convention of the Rights of the Child also writes that children should as well play an active role in asserting their rights (Lundy 2007, p.939). Emotional nastiness against children is a major theme that the Cinderella fairy tale has been associated with. Consequently, some changes were being put in place under the child neglect legislation where emotional unkindness was to be listed as a key offense against children under what is currently dubbed as the “Cinderella law” (Wexer 2014, p.3). These changes in the legislation which somewhat reference to the Cinderella fairy tale stipulate that it is an outright offense to harm a child’s behavioral and social development as well at their intellectual emotions. In these case, these crimes against children which could be borrowed from the Cinderella fairy tale are claimed to sit alongside the sexual and physical abuse crimes against children (Hayes &Tantleff‐Dunn 2010, p.417) On the other hand, Megan Zander also gives thoughts on the relationship between Cinderella fairy tale presented on films and child abuse by emphasizing that the Cinderella story is not a romance story rather it is a plan for surviving child abuse (Rapoza and Blocher 2010, p.14). In this case, she argues that a lot of generations have misunderstood this fairy story by viewing it as a fantasy that is characterized by living happily ever after as the ending of the fairy tale goes (Zander, 2015). Zander claims that there is more into this story and it is characterized by how children could overcome abuse. Lisa Owens, a blogger also underlines the abuse in this narrative and claims that the step mother’s abuses on Cinderella shockingly go unnoticed by the audience who watch or read this fairy tale story. Lisa Owens also claims that through a closer look on the narrative it is notable that Cinderella is helpless and she does not even try to help herself by fighting off her step mother’s and step sisters abuses (Warner 2012, p.143). She compares Cinderella’s situations to that of the children victims of child abuses as showed in the Convention of the Rights of the Child characteristics of victims where it is stated that commonly victims use dissociative day dreaming as a way for them to run away from the day to day reality of their situation in life (Stark and Viola 2012, p.234-235). In the Cinderella fairy tale we see her often day dreaming of a better life and running away from the troublesome life experiences that she was being subjected to through her step mothers and step sisters’ abuses. Further, Lisa Owens also argues that most of the audiences of this narrative have the perception that Cinderella out rightly rides on fate which in the long end fate seems to work out for her (Zander 2015, n.d). However, participates by resigning on her destiny to the extent where she is brave enough to stand up to her abusers, her step sister and her step mother. In this case, Cinderella comes to the realization that she is worth a better life and she should take advantage and not live the way she was living. Consequently, this is the moment that Cinderella realized that she could attend the ball and participate like any child (Rapoza and Blocher 2010, P.12-19). Owens in this case, references Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights under the Convention of the Rights of the Child which says that other than children having the right to care and protection for their well-being as is necessary they as well may express their views freely. This case it emphasizes that these views by children should be given a lot of emphasis and they should be taken into consideration on matters concerning these children as per their maturity level as well as age (Cameron, 2015, pp.1543-1544). Additionally, it stresses that all the action involving children whether they are taken up by private institution or public authorities the primary consideration of this actions should be the child’s interest. In line with this, this legislation claims that children will need direct contact and a personal relationship with both their parents unless this is contrary to these children’s interest (Hayes & Tantleff‐Dunn 2010, p.417). As depicted in this fairy tale when Cinderella made up her mind to go to the ball she expressed her right to participate in decision that affect her life. However, some critics of the comparison of this fairy tale claim that, if the majority of this fairy tale’s theme spreads showing of child abuse, Cinderella would have made a more important decision that affects her life greatly if she would have decided to leaves her step mother’s home where she as well lived with her step sister (Phillips 2014, n.d). In deed Lisa Owens argues that this would be an important decision that affects Cinderella’s life. However, she argues that Cinderella did not have any living family and thus she did not have any resources which she could use to support herself therefore, the thought of running away and living the only place where she could get shelter and food never crossed her mind despite what she was being subjected to (Daly and Wilson 2015, p.507-508). In this film the fairy tale also emphasis on the issue of participation in child abuse as depicted in the Convention of the Rights of the Child which stresses on consideration of the participation of children in cases of child abuse on decision affecting their lives (Walling 2012, pp.830-844). In this case, the film depicts Cinderella’s participation through finding courage to leave for the ball helps comes her way through the fairy godmother and through this we see her having a reasonable exit plan to the unfair life that when was being subjected to by her evil step mother and step sister (Wexer 2014, p.5). In this case, Lisa Owens stresses the author of this story used imagery to emphasize the importance of participation in the case of child abuse. On the other hand, Lisa Owens also states that in the end of this fairy tale film, the prince who was attracted to Cinderella asks her name and on replying “Cinderella” as opposed to Ella depicted a child who had known her rights and was ready to let go off her past, however she lied to protect her identity having that she had defied her mother to go to the ball (Stark & Viola 2012, p.234). However, on a closer look this scene shows appearances of child abuse victims as showed in the Convention of the Rights of the Child which reveals that it is important for the abuse victims to come to terms with what they are going through in order to take up the next step for improvement of their current situation (Furedi 2017, n.d). Therefore, through Cinderella calling herself this name she depicts the recommendation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and in the long end her situation changes for the better. In conclusion, the Cinderella fairy tale has amassed a lot of popularity over the years and a series of generations are aware about this fairy tale. Evidence of the popularity of this fairy tale can be seen through how many different versions have been created in various media with the most recent one being the videogame versions. Evidently the Cinderella fairy tale story relates with the issue of child abuse and participation. This has led to the realization that for a long time majority of the audience and readers of this fairy tale which has been a favorite for multiple generations have has a wrong observation about it. It is evident that there is a close relation between this fairy tale and the children rights and participation. Further, this fairy tale depicts child abuse through Cinderella’s life where she was subjected to child neglect and emotional cruelty by her step mother and step sister. However, this fairy tale showcases how she embraces participation and how it leads to her life and situation improving for the better. On the other hand, the relation of this fairy tale with children rights and participation is evident through the creation of the “Cinderella law” which is legislation within the universal children rights act under child neglect. References Cameron, S. 2015. Cinderella revisited. BMJ, 3317531, pp.1543-1544. Daly, M. and Wilson, M. 2015. The ‘Cinderella effect’ is no fairy tale. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 911, pp.507-508. Furedi, F. 2017. The Cinderella Law: Emotional correctness gone mad. [online] The Independent. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-cinderella-law-emotional-correctness-gone-mad-9231233.html [Accessed 27 Apr. 2017]. Hayes, S. and Tantleff‐Dunn, S., 2010. Am I too fat to be a princess? Examining the effects of popular children's media on young girls' body image. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 28(2), pp.413-426. Lundy, L., 2007. ‘Voice’is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. British Educational Research Journal, 33(6), pp.927-942. Phillips, N. 2014. Researching Reform: Cinderella Law – how might the new criminal measures affect already existing family legislation?. [online] Familylaw.co.uk. Available at: http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/researching-reform-cinderella-law-how-might-the-new-criminal-measures-affect-already-existing-family-legislation#.WQIg67ZlC1s [Accessed 27 Apr. 2017]. Powell, M.A. and Smith, A.B., 2009. Children's participation rights in research. Childhood, 16(1), pp.124-142. Rall, J. and Harris, P.L., 2000. In Cinderella's slippers? Story comprehension from the protagonist's point of view. Developmental Psychology, 36(2), p.202. RAPOZA, R. and BLOCHER, D. 2010. The Cinderella Effect: Planning Avoidance in Girls. Counseling and Values, 211, pp.12-19. Stark, J. and Viola, M. 2012. Cinderella, Cinderella!—Longitudinal analysis of qualitative and quantitative aspects of seven tellings of Cinderella by a Broca’s aphasic. Brain and Language, 1031-2, pp.234-235. Thomas, N., 2007. Towards a theory of children's participation. International Journal of Childrens Rights, 15(2), p.199. Tooley, G.A., Karakis, M., Stokes, M. and Ozanne-Smith, J., 2006. Generalising the Cinderella Effect to unintentional childhood fatalities. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27(3), pp.224-230. Walling, D. 2012. Beryllium-7: The Cinderella of fallout radionuclide sediment tracers?. Hydrological Processes, 276, pp.830-844. Warner, M. 2012. The Wronged Daughter: Aspects of Cinderella. Grand Street, 73, p.143. Wexer, G. 2014. 'Cinderella' emotional cruelty law considered - BBC News. [online] BBC News. Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26814427 [Accessed 27 Apr. 2017]. Zander, M. 2015. Cinderella Is A Tale Of Overcoming Abuse. [online] Mommyish. Available at: http://www.mommyish.com/2015/03/24/cinderella-is-a-tale-of-overcoming-abuse/ [Accessed 27 Apr. 2017]. Read More

As showed in the original Cinderella fairy tale Cinderella the main character was subjected to a lot of emotional unkindness. In the films, Cinderella is showed to be deprived of kindness and love by her step mother and step sister who are also depicted to be quite aware of what they are doing (Zander, 2015). This mistreatments that Cinderella is subjected to is against the Convention of the Rights of the Children which instructs that any person under the age of 18 years should be afforded care and protection by any adult.

In addition to this, the Convention of the Rights of the Child also writes that children should as well play an active role in asserting their rights (Lundy 2007, p.939). Emotional nastiness against children is a major theme that the Cinderella fairy tale has been associated with. Consequently, some changes were being put in place under the child neglect legislation where emotional unkindness was to be listed as a key offense against children under what is currently dubbed as the “Cinderella law” (Wexer 2014, p.3). These changes in the legislation which somewhat reference to the Cinderella fairy tale stipulate that it is an outright offense to harm a child’s behavioral and social development as well at their intellectual emotions.

In these case, these crimes against children which could be borrowed from the Cinderella fairy tale are claimed to sit alongside the sexual and physical abuse crimes against children (Hayes &Tantleff‐Dunn 2010, p.417) On the other hand, Megan Zander also gives thoughts on the relationship between Cinderella fairy tale presented on films and child abuse by emphasizing that the Cinderella story is not a romance story rather it is a plan for surviving child abuse (Rapoza and Blocher 2010, p.14). In this case, she argues that a lot of generations have misunderstood this fairy story by viewing it as a fantasy that is characterized by living happily ever after as the ending of the fairy tale goes (Zander, 2015).

Zander claims that there is more into this story and it is characterized by how children could overcome abuse. Lisa Owens, a blogger also underlines the abuse in this narrative and claims that the step mother’s abuses on Cinderella shockingly go unnoticed by the audience who watch or read this fairy tale story. Lisa Owens also claims that through a closer look on the narrative it is notable that Cinderella is helpless and she does not even try to help herself by fighting off her step mother’s and step sisters abuses (Warner 2012, p.143). She compares Cinderella’s situations to that of the children victims of child abuses as showed in the Convention of the Rights of the Child characteristics of victims where it is stated that commonly victims use dissociative day dreaming as a way for them to run away from the day to day reality of their situation in life (Stark and Viola 2012, p.234-235). In the Cinderella fairy tale we see her often day dreaming of a better life and running away from the troublesome life experiences that she was being subjected to through her step mothers and step sisters’ abuses.

Further, Lisa Owens also argues that most of the audiences of this narrative have the perception that Cinderella out rightly rides on fate which in the long end fate seems to work out for her (Zander 2015, n.d). However, participates by resigning on her destiny to the extent where she is brave enough to stand up to her abusers, her step sister and her step mother. In this case, Cinderella comes to the realization that she is worth a better life and she should take advantage and not live the way she was living.

Consequently, this is the moment that Cinderella realized that she could attend the ball and participate like any child (Rapoza and Blocher 2010, P.12-19). Owens in this case, references Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights under the Convention of the Rights of the Child which says that other than children having the right to care and protection for their well-being as is necessary they as well may express their views freely.

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